Book Thread

I have finally given up on on Harry Mount's How England made the English. I feel like I gave it a good go, reaching nearly half way, but there's only so much I can take when faced with fact after fact after fact about the geology of Norfolk or Wiltshire.

The book was a fine concept but it just doesn't flow.

Anyway, moving on... I like a bit of historical fiction (e.g Robert Harris) so can anyone offer me a recommendation?

I have finally given up on on Harry Mount's England for the English. I feel like I gave it a good go, reaching nearly half way, but there's only so much I can take when faced with fact after fact after fact about the geology of Norfolk or Wiltshire.

The book was a fine concept but it just doesn't flow.

Anyway, moving on... I like a bit of historical fiction (e.g Robert Harris) so can anyone offer me a recommendation?

What are you all reading at the mo?

TaMark

just started brighton rock: greene captures the seediness and tackiness of seaside towns really well. I love these places. Thew plot hasn't got going although the protagonist tells us he's going to get killed in the first couple of pages. I do like Harris. Currently got Winter in Berlin by CJ Sansome on the back burner. The background is the Spanish Civil War,

just started brighton rock: greene captures the seediness and tackiness of seaside towns really well. I love these places. Thew plot hasn't got going although the protagonist tells us he's going to get killed in the first couple of pages. I do like Harris. Currently got Winter in Berlin by CJ Sansome on the back burner. The background is the Spanish Civil War,

just started brighton rock: greene captures the seediness and tackiness of seaside towns really well. I love these places. Thew plot hasn't got going although the protagonist tells us he's going to get killed in the first couple of pages.

Talking of Graham Greene, I've just re-read 'The Ministry of Fear', which isn't for anyone with even the slightest tendency towards paranoia.Other recent reads:

The Innocents at Home, by Lord Kinross. Travels in the USA in the Fifties. Mostly just okay, but with some highlights.

Mother Tongue, by Bill Bryson. The history of language, with the main attention of English. Very readable and enjoyable, despite the mountain of information coming at you of every page.

Diary of a Rock'n'Roll Star, by Ian Hunter (of Mott the Hoople). A great (if short) read. Although it is a bit naive and dated to the modern-day reader, it is a great insight into the life of a touring band.

A mind is like a parachute. It doesn’t work if it isn’t open. Frank Zappa (1940 - 1993)

Ploughing through 'Citizens', a history of the French Revolution, by Simon Schama, and two weeks in we may actually be getting to the revolution. In theory also reading Quicksilver, Neal Stephenson, but I can't really be doing with two mindbenders on the go at once, so I'm re-reading Scoop, Evelyn Waugh, for light relief.

I have finally given up on on Harry Mount's How England made the English. I feel like I gave it a good go, reaching nearly half way, but there's only so much I can take when faced with fact after fact after fact about the geology of Norfolk or Wiltshire.

Zombie: An Anthology of the Undead - Christopher GoldenPatient Zero - Jonathan MaberryDead City - Joe McKinneyand there's another, which I've forgotten the name of, and a couple more on order at the library.

I'm also recording the past two series of The Walking Dead early each morning on FX.

Keef: "me and Mick spent hours listening to Bo Diddley, blues stuff. We were really a blues band but then we saw we could get loads of money, drugs and women by diluting it into pop music. Then we did loads of drugs. That is all"

Sean: "Me, Wello, Wilko, Glees and Scully and some of the boys went on a bender, drank about 20 pints each and I did something stupid."

I really enjoyed Imperium, but found Lustrum a bit stodgy. I'm not sure I will bother with the third when it comes out because of that (and the fact that I know what happened to Cicero too).

About to go on holiday and have got The Way of the Traitor by Laura Joh Rowland, Curse of the Pogo Stick by Colin Cotterill, Inspector Singh Investigates A Curious Indian Cadaver by Shamini Flint, The Ambassador's Wife by Jake Needham and Breathing Water by timothy Hallinan for pool side reading. There are links between all five if anyone can spot them.